Despedida Parties

Here are some photos of various "send-off" activities :-) Thanks so much to everyone who went out of their way !!!

This shows me, my mom and Tito (Uncle) Jojo -- sitting down - My dad, Sam, Lukas, Eman, Ninong Eloy and Ninang Ludy (wedding godparents) at Italliani's Greenbelt last July 1.

Lunch with the staff from the Center for Social Development, Ayala Foundation. At Sentro, Greenbelt, July 27 .

Gladys' last minute shopping and chika, Pat's Europe tips, Ninong Sir Mose's blessing, Jops, Nyles, Kakay's surprise visit!

I will miss you all!

My Circle of Nice People

When the time came that I was finally able to say that "I'm really going to UWP!" I told my boss that I was so lucky to be in that part of the world with a HUGE concentration of nice people. Throughout my Up With People application process, I knew that a lot of people rooted for me, cheered for me, prayed for me... my eternal thanks!

To Sam - such a wonderful husband. I know that we are a bit anxious about being away from each other for 5 months, but as he said "This is for your own self fulfillment, I do not want to take a dream away from you." We know that this is a sort of separation that may bring about rewards fro the both of us in the future. (Sam, by the way, is also in training and is barely home. He graduates in January 2008, hopefully.)

To my Parents, my Memi and Pepi - again, I am lucky for having very supportive and "game" parents. I know my Mom prayed for me a lot and my dad also encouraged me to go for it. They have been with me through EVERYTHING. I know they also shared all my stress for this trip --- financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

To the UWP staff and most specially to Scott Reeder, Admissions Counselor.

My super-boss Mario Deriquito - who helped me out through the "toughest" part of the program even if it meant "losing his hamster" :-) plus the surprise CSD lunch send-off.

To Reynold Feldman, Executive Director of Blue Sky Associates in Minneapolis, for the outstanding recommendation and for continuing to believe in this Filipina.

Very special thank you to Ms. Bea Zobel, Ms. Loida Lewis, Mr. Archie Velasco, Mr. Simon Mossesgeld (Ninong Sir Mose) , Mr. Dody Naguiat, Tito Benjie Gervasio, Tim and Candice Cipullo, Lola Salud...

Tito Eloy, Tita Ludy and Manu for the wonderful goodbye dinner.
Tito Jojo Guamen and Lukas! For the super special goodbye hug and the bonus "baon"
Tita Girlie and Tito Conrad for my L.A accommodation! Cuz Elvin for the charger assistance...

My special cheerleaders, Maan Samson, Kiel Fernandez, Rico Yee, My Almogino and Geelay Payumo -- you definitely encouraged me lots when I thought I should give up! Kasali na din si Miss Sarah Sevilla, JJ Ferro, Martin Nanawa, Pogz Handig, at ang grad school teacher ko na si Sony Querejero, na walang patid sa pagkumusta and for their genuine happiness! Prayer warriors Aque Holgado, Maricar Yulo and practically the whole CSD family...

Office buddy and Kopi-Mate Nyla Prieto who kept up with my mindless chatter and shared my excitement over everything !! (as in everything!!!)

Ave Mejia ! Next year ikaw naman!

Pat Gallardo for the super nice words and great travel advice (up to now I am carefully analyzing my luggage..) , not to mention for the "extra cappuccino" baon.

Gladys Malto for the last minute shopping companionship, last minute chika, last minute hug!

Jofel Josef and Kakay Rico (plus Nylah ulet!) for the surprise visit this evening. I was not able to pack , but who cares! :-) It was fun seeing you again ! Jofel -- for the laptop bag and kikay kit -- ahh and the wonderful hat!

I am so sleepy now -- I hope I have not forgotten anyone.

Tomorrow, i fly via PAL flight 112 at 8:00 PM -- will try to see if I have the time to post despedida photos before that...

Byahe Tayo! (Let's Travel!)

I love this video. It shows all the great places of the Philippines --

Ang ganda ng Pilipinas, Ang galing ng Pilipino!

(The beauty of the Philippines, The greatness of the Filipino)

The Final Cut: Shengen Visa

I hurdled the application process.

I successfully went through the long financial aid application.

I got the scholarship. I was able to raise the remaining funds.

I had a passport. I had a US Visa. I got a confirmed booking.


But I did not have a Shengen Visa.

The Shengen Visa is the "unified Visa" system in Europe. With this, you may just enter one country in the region and travel freely throughout the Shengen zone. Internal border controls have disappeared; and there are no (or few) stops or checks.

FYI, the 15 Shengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finlad, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries except Norway and Iceland are European Union members.

There are also a lot of countries NOT required to have the S.Visa when entering the countries above - but we are the Philippines :-) so we obviously need it. (I remember someone telling me to blame the millions of Filipinos living illegally abroad because they are the main reason why obtaining Visas in the Philippines is hard)

I never had any experiences on Visa application. Thanks to my parents, I have had a US Visa since I was three years old and we just kept on renewing it. Right before 9/11 I was renewed with a 10-year US Visa, which will expire in 2010. I am sure it is a lot harder to get one now.

The stories I heard about the quest for the much coveted US Visa were enough to make me so jittery when I applied for my Shengen. By joining Up with People (UWP) I was bound to be unemployed for the next 5 months and then some. And a lot of people told me that "employment" is a big factor that they consider when giving Visas - because this is proof that one is bound to his or her country and not planning to leave illegally.

Well, some people can lie during the interview, right? But I was afraid that if I lie about unemployment, they might ask another question that can put me on the spot...

It was such a short interview which puzzled me greatly. Then they got my passport and asked me to wait approximately 2 weeks for a courier to bring me my Visa decision.

2 agonizingly painful weeks.

Which ended today.

It turns out that HONESTY pays! I got my Visa, and we are good to go!

Next step: Panic Packing!

By the way, I am still using my maiden name, "Marianna Alfa G. Fernando" in all my documents , not yet my married name. I haven't had the time to change IDs and status yet. But I promise I am bringing my husband in my heart and in my spirit.